Cindy Vogels will determine the winner of the prestigious "Best in Show" competition at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show late Tuesday. The grand finale of the highly competitive event will feature the seven winners from the Sporting, Non-Sporting, Herding, Toy, Working, Hound and Terrier groups.
REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

The 136th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show began Monday in New York, featuring competitors in the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding groups. The dogs came from all across the United States to compete in the world's most famous dog show.

In Monday's competition, there were 97 Best of Breed winners competing for the top spot in their group. Each dog had already won the prize for Best of Breed.

In the Hound group, 28 breeds known for their keen sense of smell competed for the prize of Best of Hounds. An adorable Wire-Haired Dachshund named Raydachs Playing With Fire V Gleishorbach won the Best of Hounds group. The three-year-old Dachshund's call name is Clinters. She will compete in Tuesday's Best in Show competition. The runners-up in the Hound group included a Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen, a Whippet and a Norwegian Elkhound.

In the Toy group, 23 breeds know for their small size and tough nature competed for the prize of Best of Toys. A gorgeous Pekingese named Palacegarden Malachy won the prize for Best of Toys. The four-year-old Pekingese's will compete in the Best in Show competition late Tuesday. The runners-up in the Toy group included an Affenpinscher, a Miniature Pinscher and a Silky Terrier.

In the Non-Sporting group, 20 breeds known for their diversity and range competed for the prize of Best of Non-Sportings. A beautiful Dalmatian named Spotlights Ruffian won the award for Best of Non-Sportings. The almost five-year-old Dalmatian will compete in the Best in Show competition Tuesday. His nickname is Ian. The runner-ups in the Non-Sporting group included a Chinese Shar-Pei, a Lowchen and a Miniature Poodle.

In the Herding group, 26 breeds known for their intelligence and skilled ability to herd competed for the prize of Best of Herdings. A stunning German Shepherd named Babheim's Captain Crunch won the award of Best of Herdings. His nickname is Capi. The nearly five-year-old German Shepherd will compete in Tuesday's Best in Show. The runner-ups include a Bouviers des Flandres, an Old English Sheepdog and a Shetland Sheepdog.

The Westminster Dog Show will continue on Tuesday with entries in the Sporting, Working and Terrier groups. More than 80 breeds will compete throughout the day to win the Best of Breed award before contending for the top prize in their group late Tuesday.

The grand finale of the Westminster Dog Show will feature the winners of the seven groups in the Best in Show competition. The Best in Show competition will be judged by Cindy Vogels of Greenwood Village, Colo. Vogels will preside over a panel of 38 judges from 19 states.

The Westminster Dog Show features 2,077 dogs and 105 Junior Showmanship entries across 185 breeds. Dogs come from 47 states across the United States, with the most entries coming from New York, California and Pennsylvania.

Six of the breeds featured in the Westminster Dog Show are newly recognized and competed for the first time in the show. The new breeds include: American English Coonhounds (three entries in Hound Group), Cesky Terries (three entries in Terrier Group), Norwegian Lundehunds (five entries in the non-sporting group), Xoloitzcunitlis (ten entries in the non-sporting group), Entlebucher Mountain dogs (four entries in the herding group) and Finnish Lapphunds (eight entries in the herding group).

Thus far, none of the newly recognized breeds won their group and none will continue on to the Best in Show competition.